Ex-WNBA player dishes on ‘scary part’ of Caitlin Clark’s rookie season

By Ryan Gaydos – Published September 17, 2024 – Fox News

Caitlin Clark will finish up the first regular season of her WNBA career on Thursday, when the Indiana Fever takes on the Washington Mystics.

Clark is the clear-cut favorite to win the WNBA Rookie of the Year Award as she has put together a phenomenal season, breaking multiple rookie records and recording two triple-doubles.

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark, #22, signs mini basketballs for fans following a WNBA basketball game against the Dallas Wings in Indianapolis on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Not to mention, Indiana has 20 wins for the first time since 2015 and is in the postseason for the first time since 2016. Those five-win days appear to be long gone.

Val Whiting, who played for the Detroit Shock and Minnesota Lynx, offered her take on Clark after she dropped a career-high 35 points in a win over the Dallas Wings on Sunday.

“Here’s my humble opinion: I think that Caitlin Clark is still adjusting to the WNBA,” she wrote on X. “She has not yet fully adjusted to the league and look how she’s performing. And that, my friends, is the scary part.”

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark, #22, shoots over Dallas Wings guard Sevgi Uzun, #1, in the second half of a WNBA basketball game in Indianapolis on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

With one game left on the Fever’s schedule, Clark is averaging 19.5 points, 8.4 assists and 5.7 rebounds per game. She’s shooting 41.7% from the field and 34.1% from 3-point range.

Next up, the playoffs.

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark, #22, reacts after a three-point basket in front of Minnesota Lynx forward Bridget Carleton, #6, in the first half of a WNBA basketball game in Indianapolis on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

“Everybody is definitely excited for the playoffs,” Clark said, via ESPN. “We’re not just happy to be there. We really feel like we can compete with every single team.”

Caitlin Clark scores career-high 35 points, sets WNBA rookie single-season scoring record

Fever won game 110-109

By Ryan Gaydos Fox News – Published September 15, 2024 – Fox sports

Caitlin Clark put on an incredible shooting display as she toppled another WNBA rookie record in the Indiana Fever’s 110-109 victory over the Dallas Wings in their final home game of the regular season.

Clark had a career-high 35 points as she broke the WNBA mark for most points scored by a rookie in a single season. Seimone Augusts set the bar 18 years ago when she scored 744 points in her first season with the Minnesota Lynx.

Dallas Wings guard Jacy Sheldon (4) defends Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) in the first half of a WNBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

As Indiana wrapped up the win, Clark had 761 points. She was 10 of 22 from the field with six 3-pointers. She broke the rookie record on a 3-pointer and contributed eight assists and three steals.

Clark and Kelsey Mitchell each had 15 points at halftime. Mitchell finished with 30 points. Aliyah Boston had 15 points, six rebounds and six assists.

Dallas had Indiana on the ropes for most of the game. The Wings took a two-point lead into the half. The teams traded baskets to open up the third quarter, and the Fever held a one-point lead at the end of the period.

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) reaches for the ball during a game against the Dallas Wings at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. (Grace Hollars / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

Clark then took over in the fourth quarter. She went on a 7-0 run by herself and gave the Fever a nine-point lead. The ability to turn the game around on a dime is what proved to be the difference-maker.

Three Wings starters scored at least 20 points. Satou Sabally and Arike Ogunbowale each scored 27 points and Natasha Howard added 26 points. But it wasn’t enough.

Dallas had already been eliminated from postseason contention coming into the game. They end the season on the road against the Las Vegas Aces next week.

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) celebrates after a 3-point basket against the Dallas Wings in the first half of a WNBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Indiana also has one more game on the schedule as they hit the road to take on the Washington Mystics.

NBA legend lauds Caitlin Clark’s development over rookie season

Clark is leading candidate for WNBA Rookie of the Year

by Ryan Gaydos , Ryan Canfield Fox News – Published September 11, 2024

Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark was the No. 1 overall pick in the WNBA Draft this past spring after a stellar collegiate career at Iowa, but top figures in men’s and women’s hoops weren’t immediately sold on her game translating to the professional ranks.

Over the course of the grueling season, Clark has more than impressed the basketball world and has drawn massive audiences both in arenas and on television.

Basketball Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas appeared on OutKick’s “Don’t @ Me with Dan Dakich” and said Clark has the “it factor.”

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark reacts after a 3-point basket against the Minnesota Lynx in Indianapolis on Sept. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

“She also has game. She got real game,” Thomas told Dakich. “You know, when she came out of college, everybody was talking about, ‘Oh, she is going to be a great scorer, and she is going to shoot the basketball and going to shoot the lights out.’ And then she unveiled ‘Oh I can drop dimes, too. Oh, I can pass, too.’ And what we are seeing now is you’re seeing the complete offensive player come into play.”

Thomas lauded Clark’s ability to add different weapons to her game, from the unselfish passes to working on a floating jump shot in the lane.

SHAQ CALLS CAITLIN CLARK THE ‘REAL DEAL,’ COMPARES HER SHOOTING RANGE TO NBA STAR

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark drives on Minnesota Lynx forward Bridget Carleton in Indianapolis on Sept. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

“Caitlin right now, her dimes are coming through. You see she’s averaging a lot of turnovers during the course of the season. Next year, that will come down because now her teammates are getting used to her not only passing the ball but giving it to them on time, on target, catch, lay-up or shot,” Thomas said. “So, what are they doing now? They are running.

“You see creativity, you see originality, you see all that stuff in transition now because the floor is read. As soon as they get the ball, make a miss, they are out, man. They are out getting in the lanes, running to their spots, getting to their spots. Why? Because they know Caitlin is going to give it up. That’s the beauty that we are watching in basketball right now with Caitlin Clark.”

Clark is averaging 19.2 points and 8.5 assists this season and has helped get the Fever back to the playoffs.

The Fever have also seen success in Aliyah Boston for the second straight season, while Kelsey Mitchell has stepped up as well. In the second half of the season, Lexie Hull has come on strong, showing how strong her game has been since the Olympics break.

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark during the game against the Atlanta Dream at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on Sept. 8, 2024. (Grace Smith/IndyStar/USA Today Network)

Clark and the Fever are back in action on Wednesday night against the Las Vegas Aces.

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